Dapchi: FG sets up probe into Boko Haram school kidnapping

ABUJA— The Federal Government, yesterday, released the names and other details of the missing 110 girls of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who were taken away by Boko Haram insurgents, following attack on the school penultimate Monday.

Dapchi schoolgirls during the headcount on Tuesday.

The government also set up a 12-member committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the students.

This came as Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, asked the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, suspend boarding school system in North-East.

This is even as House of Representatives at yesterday’s plenary, summoned service chiefs to brief it on the abduction of the girls.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who disclosed thuis in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, said the list was handed over to the Federal Government by Yobe State government.

The list indicated that of the 110 missing girls, eight are in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3. The girls’ ages range from 11 to 19 years.

The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member screening committee that included Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, yesterday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

As at 6 pm on Monday, the NAF had flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search

FG sets up c’ittee to probe abduction

Also, yesterday, the Federal Government set up a 12-member committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of 110 students.

The committee was convened by National Security Adviser, NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd).

The Information Minister, who disclosed this, said the committee, which will be chaired by a military officer of the rank of Major-General, comprises one senior Provost each from Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force; representatives of National Intelligence Agency, NIA; Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA; Nigeria Police Force, NPF; Department of State Services, DSS; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; two representatives of Yobe State government and a representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The terms of reference of the committee, according to the minister, include ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls, confirming the presence, composition, scale and disposition of security emplaced in Dapchi as well as in GGSTC before the incident and suggesting measures that can lead to the location and rescue of the girls.

The panel, which is expected to submit its report on March 15, 2018, is also saddled with recommending measures to prevent future occurrence, while it will be inaugurated on February 28, 2018.

NBA asks FG to suspend Boarding School System in North-East

Meanwhile, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to urgently suspend boarding school system in North-East.

The NBA also urged government to quickly review the security apparatus of all learning institutions in the region, especially boarding schools for girls.

The legal body made the call in an address its President, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, presented at a valedictory court session in honour of Justice Clara Ogunbiyi of the Supreme Court, who bowed out of active judicial service upon clocking the 70 years mandatory retirement age.

Mahmoud said: “My lord, the Chief Justice, it may not be out of place to seize this opportunity to comment on somewhat tangentially related national event.

“The abduction a few days ago, according to press reports, of about 105 girls at the Government Girls Secondary and Technical School Dapchi Yobe State, the same region where Hon Justice Ogunbiyi hails from.

SANs demand extension of retirement age for Judges

Meantime, the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria has decried what it termed as “constitutional conspiracy” against the judiciary, saying it was unfair for lawmakers to peg the retirement age of justices of the apex court at 70 years.

The body noted that whereas members of the executive and legislative arms of government could remain in active service till 90 years, it decried that the 1999 constitution made it mandatory for high court judges to retire at 65, while justices of the apex court must bow out when they clock 70 years.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who made the position of the body known at the valedictory court session, said: “I see no reason why there should be this constitutional conspiracy and discrimination between judges and politicians.

“I want to sincerely appeal to our lawmakers and most of our politicians that are here today, when you want to amend the constitution, this is an area you should look into. We are wasting our judges.

Reps summon service chiefs

In a related development, the House of Representatives has summoned service chiefs to brief it on the abduction of the girls.

The House also set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances of the abduction.

The House reached the decision while considering a motion, entitled: “Need to rescue the 110 abducted students of Government, Girls Technical College, Dapchi in Busari Local Government, Yobe State,” moved by Goni Lawan from the state.

Lawan, while moving the motion, expressed worry that there was no military presence during the attack.

Moderating the proceedings earlier, Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, described the abduction as a national shame, stressing the need for government to take all measures to prevent a recurrence.

Mama Boko Haram appeals to Albarnawi to release the girls

Meanwhile, with a strong conviction that the Abu Musab Al-Barnawi-led faction of Boko Haram might be responsible for the abduction of the girls, a respected North-East human rights activist, Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly known as Mama Boko Haram, has appealed to the abductors of the students to release them.

Aisha Wakil, a former member of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in North of Nigeria under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, had, in previous efforts, brought military officers and Boko Haram commanders together during negotiations.

Speaking to PRNigeria in Maiduguri, Aisha, who is said to be highly respected by some leaders of Boko Haram, said she was ready to sacrifice her life to rescue the girls from abductors.